Obituary of Raymond Whitney Larzelere

Raymond Whitney Larzelere, 76, of Clinton, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 5, 2025.  

Ray was born in Penn Yan, NY on March 1, 1949, a son of the late William Whitney and Margaret Louise (Ormsby) Larzelere. Raised on the edge of Keuka Lake, Ray gained his impeccable work ethic through the family’s vineyards alongside his father and siblings.  He was a graduate of Penn Yan Academy, Class of 1967.  

Blessed with a beautiful operatic tenor voice, Ray attended the prestigious Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he met his future wife, Sona Balukjian. Ray and Sona were married on June 5, 1971. Through the years, they shared a union of love and devotion.  

After receiving his Master’s degree from SUNY Binghamton, Ray sang with the Binghamton Opera.  The family then relocated to Clinton, where Ray began his career as a music teacher at Whitesboro Central Schools, teaching countless students, and directing and building sets for dozens of yearly musicals. Ray proudly retired after 30 years. He was also a voice instructor at Hamilton College and had served as choir director at New Hartford United Methodist Church, with Sona serving as organist. He was a man who rarely sat idle. When he was not making music, he could be found working in his wood shop.  Ray was also a master carpenter, who built his and Sona’s dream home on the outskirts of Clinton in the mid 80’s. Every inch of their home is symbol of his craftsmanship.  

He will be deeply missed by his wife Sona; his son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Regina Larzelere of Herkimer; his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Christopher Wittekind of Frisco, TX; four beloved grandchildren, Cassandra and William Larzelere, and Katherine and Isabelle Wittekind; his sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Russ Smith of Tullahoma, TN; two brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Liz Larzelere of Woodinville, WA, and Jeffrey and Patty Larzelere of Penn Yan, NY; his “sixth sibling” Jim and Kathy Moon of Penn Yan, NY; dear family friend Joanne St. George of Mt Kisco, NY; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends.  He is also survived by his brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Gregory Balukjian of Massena, David Balukjian of Essex Junction, VT, and Lillian and Jeffrey Thompson of Westerville, OH.  

He was predeceased by his parents; sister Marianne “Missi” Larzelere; and his in-laws, Alice and Sarkis Balukjian.  

All are invited to call from 3-6 PM on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, 35 College St., Clinton, NY.  Funeral services will be at 11 AM Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at St. James Episcopal Church, 9 Williams St., Clinton. Interment will be at Branchport Cemetery in Penn Yan, NY at a later date.   

The family wishes to thank the First Responders, as well as the ER staff of the Wynn Hospital for their compassionate and exceptional care.   

To honor Ray, please consider donations to the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam or BloodCancerUnited.org.